THE MEAT TRUST.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1918, Page 2

THE MEAT TRUST.

A GREAT 'DAXGEBj (From Qui' Own Correspondent.) Wellington. Dec. ,1. A suggestion tliat the i'rime Minister shoulu obtain tlie fullest possible information about tiie operations of the ilea, Trust dming his visit to the United Kingdom was made in the House of Representatives by Mr. W.' Nonworthy (Ashburton). The member sug£este<l that the Prime Minister should try to secure the sort of information that would assist the New Zealand farmers in resisting the encroachments of the Trust. Mr. Ma-wcy said he would give the matter his attention in London. "When I get an opportunity," he said, "I shall again express to the Imperial authorities my opinion of the danger to the whole of the Empire of the Meat- Trust being- allowed to establish itself in this Dominion and in the heart of the Empire itself. 1 did so to a certain extent while in England on the last occasion, »nd my •ininions were endorsed by the Minister for Finance, I believo they had some wljfH wlt.h the Imperial Government. "1 have rend the report of the Commis;;on sot up b\" the American Government to inquire irto the operations of tln» Meat. Tru>t. anil I would very mneli like to see tlist report in the hands of everv farmer in -Xevv Zealand, so that the farmers might realise the importance of keepin". the Trust at a distance. There is a Bill before this House now dealing with the Meat Trust. ft has been reserved to the Slot* Committee, and I hope it \» ill be passed into law before ihe end of the present, session " Tlie Miniate" for Finance (Sir Joseph Ward) 'aid he also had made strong representations to the Imperial authorities on this question. He would be very ™'nd do =o ajrain. He recognised the dfvntrer to this eoimlry or to any conn, trv if the prept financial interests that handled meat in the Umted States were allowed to got, a footinsr. ■ He. thought that the New Zealand Government would require by" legislation to have Increased control in order to protect the interests of tVe rrrodoeei's In this country. The Meat Trust V.sd got a firm footing in the t'nifed "Ifte* and the finvemment there found it hard to handle.